1 Conviction Overturned In Mob Case

A federal judge on Wednesday overturned the murder conspiracy conviction of reputed mob underboss Salvatore DeLaurentis, reducing by 10 years the maximum penalty he faces at sentencing in January.

The decision of U.S. District Judge Ann C. Williams means that DeLaurentis, convicted with Ernest Rocco Infelice and two other reputed mob figures, faces up to 58 years in prison, not 68 years, under sentencing guidelines.

A federal court jury had found DeLaurentis, 53, of Inverness guilty of racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit murder and operating an illegal gambling business.

The March 10 verdicts capped a 4 1/2-month trial, exposing murder and corruption attributed to Infelice`s crime family in Cook and Lake Counties.

Prosecutors hailed the convictions as a major blow against organized crime.

But the jury`s action left unclear two seemingly inconsistent verdicts about the murder of Hal C. Smith of Mt. Prospect, a wealthy independent bookmaker who was strangled after refusing to pay street taxes.

officials said. Smith`s body later was recovered from the trunk of his car.

Jurors acquitted DeLaurentis in the racketeering conspiracy count of plotting to kill Smith, but found him guilty of the same conspiracy in a separate count of the indictment.

On Wednesday, Williams, the presiding judge, resolved the controversy. For a combination of reasons, including confusing verdict forms, Williams said, the jurors had erred. She then declared a mistrial as to the separate count. Whether it will be retried is unknown.

Prosecutor Mitchell Mars said a decision will be made after sentencing next month. Defense lawyer Allan Ackerman expressed confidence the entire case will be overturned on appeal.